underriver newssheet · moon the ghouls and goblins of under-river descended on the white rock for...
TRANSCRIPT
Underriver Newssheet
DECEMBER 2017 &
JANUARY 2018
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Key: BCP = Book of Common Prayer - a service using traditional (17th C) language and form; CW = Common Worship - a service using contemporary (21st C) language and form
The Church of St Margaret, Underriver
Vicar: Rev Serena Willoughby St Lawrence Vicarage, Stone Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0LQ
Telephone: 01732 761766 Email: [email protected]
Church Calendar DECEMBER
3 1st Sunday of Advent Purple
11:15 All-age Family Service Reading: tbc
10 2nd Sunday of Advent Purple
8:00 Holy Communion (CW) Readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-end & Matthew 25:1-13
11:15 Baptism Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11 & Mark 1:1-8
17 3rd Sunday of Advent Purple
18:00 CAROL SERVICE
24 CHRISTMAS EVE White
16:00
23:30
CRIB SERVICE First Communion of Christmas
Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7 & John 1:1-14
25 CHRISTMAS DAY White
11:15 Family Celebration Communion Reading: Luke 2:1-14
31 White Naming & Circumcision of Jesus
9:45 Joint Holy Communion at St Lawrence’s
St Margaret’s Church Website St Margaret’s now has its own website. To keep up to date about services and events please see
www.stmargaretsunderriver.org.uk
for January see page 15
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Hello everyone,
This month just about a third of the population of Britain will watch the final of the X Factor, Simon Cowell’s talent show juggernaut. I have to confess that over the years I’ve watched it and enjoyed the running commentary my family give as we we’ve sat there together.
I particularly love Strictly Come Dancing, or ‘strictly’ to its most devoted fans!
When the winner of X factor has been decided, we will be told that whoever it is is going to have a stellar career on top of the £1 million recording contract they’ve signed as the winner of X Factor. Will they? Only time will tell and time hasn’t exactly been generous to many winners of TV talent shows: indeed it seems to be more of an advantage to come second.
But over these next days of advent days I invite you to listen to another song from a different teenager. One of the main Advent/Christmas readings is from Mary, the mother of Jesus, who sings out her feelings at realising that she has been asked to give birth to the Messiah. In words that the Church now calls The Magnificat (Luke 1: 39-55) she turns the spotlight off herself and back to God.
The song is the complete opposite from everything that’s been sung over the weeks that X Factor has been on.
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
For Mary it was never about what she could get out of being centre
(Continued on page 4)
FROM THE VICAR
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CHURCH NEWS
stage. In fact she never asked for it at all. The whole experience was about what God was doing in turning the world upside down:
•Bringing down the powerful and lifting up the lowly
•Filling the hungry with good things
•Being Immanuel – God with us.
What a contrast to the X Factor culture which encourages us to queue up in order to be idolized, to belittle each other and compete. Here is a teenage girl stepping forward, allowing herself to be the topic of gossip and backbiting in
order that God’s new hope can be revealed to a needy world.
I wonder who would step forward for that audition today?
What an incredible thing she did so in obeying God that we may have Christmas – Christ with us, not just once a year but all year round.
Please join us at St Margaret’s Underriver and/or St Lawrence Stone Street in celebrating Christmas. It’s going to great.
Happy Christmas to you all,
Serena x
(Continued from page 3)
Toys for the Church Army!
The Church Army is a charity sup-ported by St Margaret’s Church which exists to change lives, helping people know that God thinks they are fantas-tic and that they can have hope. Church Army teams work to bring love, compassion and joy to people who would never step inside the doors of a church. Sister Gill Martin from the Church Army spoke at our service on 5th November about their work amongst some of the most deprived people in our community. Many peo-ple who benefit from Church Army support in tackling their problems also
have children. Some of the children are introverted, insecure or suffer from behavioural difficulties. They’re all wel-comed, loved and accepted.
We think it would be a nice idea for our church in Underriver to mark Christmas by having a gift day for toys to be donated to the Church Army. These should be new and unwrapped. Please bring them to church to our service on 3rd December.
Bulb planting
An intrepid troop of bulb planters assembled on 11th December to con-
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tinue the marathon bulb planting exer-cise commenced almost exactly a year ago. The weather was kinder this year, and we continued planting a line of bulbs along the north/south boundary in front of the church and along the southern fence line.
As it was Armistice Day we halted briefly just before 11am to observe the two minutes silence.
Jennifer Fair served up some very welcome coffee and refreshments afterwards. Many thanks to her and to John Clemence who so generously pro-vided the bulbs.
Loaves, Fishes and Christ-mas cake!
Janet Rucker has asked me to re-
mind all the very generous people who
donate to our food bank that the need
is particularly pressing at Christmas.
This year we have decided to continue
our Christmas cake initiative whereby
we ask for donations of Christmas cake
as a festive item to bring cheer to peo-
ple who may not feel there is much
cheer in their lives right now. Please
bring your donations of cake to the
foodbank collection point before our
Carol service on 17th December.
Christmas: The story of mince pies
Did you know that mince pies have been traditional English Christmas fare since the Middle Ages, when meat was a key ingredient? The addition of spic-es, suet and alcohol to meat came about because it was an alternative to salting and smoking in order to preserve the food. Mince pies used to be a different shape - cradle-shaped with a pastry baby Jesus on top.
Thank the Lord for Facebook. Otherwise I'd have to call 674 people today to tell them I just went Christmas shopping.
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Underriver Village Association
Chairman: Miles Hayward
Annual Membership £10 per household - To join contact [email protected]
Pilates Classes Mondays 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Tuesdays 9:25 am
Contact: Zoe George 07950 494 335 Email: [email protected] www.zoegeorgepilates.com
BOOT CAMP Fast paced circuit based workout
Every Tuesday 7.30pm Contact: Chris -
email: [email protected] or call 07796 693756
Dates for your diaries:
• Dec 8th Village Christmas Dinner
• Dec 10th Second Wind Christmas Concert St Margaret’s
• Dec 16th Children’s Christmas Party
• March 3rd UVA Quiz Night
Cookies Kitchen Children's cookery classes held during
school holidays & at weekends. For further information -
email: [email protected] or call 07786 271227
The Band Jam Runs a three day courses in Underriver during
school holidays for young singers and musicians aged between 8-14 years old.
For further information - email: [email protected].
Telephone: 07786 166009
Underriver Childrens Christmas Party Saturday 16th December
This year's village Children’s Christmas party will be held in the Village Hall on Saturday 16th December from 2-4pm.
The party is open to any children in the village who would like to come.
If your child would like to come along please email me on [email protected] children welcome but can I ask parents of young children to accompany them.
Fiona Mullick
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THE UNDERRIVER CHRISTMAS POSTIES
The Christmas card box will be placed in the Church Porch from Friday 1st December & will be removed on Monday 18th December 2017.
We will undertake to deliver your local Christmas cards within the village, all you have to do is put them in the box. The map of the delivery area will be on top of the box.
The service is free to anyone living in the village, but we are raising money for charity so all donations (large or small!!) will be gratefully received. The box will be emptied on a daily basis, so please feel free to leave any donations in the box along with your cards.
Lucy Weston
Unsung Heroes !
I would like to personally thank all the newssheet distributors who come rain or shine happily deliver your newssheet through your letterbox for me. Namely Mary Owlett, Louise Hayward, Sophie Honnywill, Jill Scott, Brenda Leafe, Arthur Rucker, Christopher Hurrion, Jennifer Fair, Kit Thornton, Ted Mills, Libby Payne, Robert Talbot, Sarah Rook, Ruth Hawker, Angela Ridge and Karen Hambilton. Proof indeed that many hands make light work, thank you to you all.
Belinda Goodwin
POPPY COLLECTION FOR ROYAL BRITISH LEGION This year's collection for the Poppy Appeal has raised the excellent total of £2,222. Of this the church collection raised £548, and the village £1,673.
On behalf of RBL thanks are due to Alan and Anna Dagnall, Tony Bird, Karen Hambilton, Louise Hayward, Lynda Law, Lucy Weston, Underriver Village Associ-ation, the church congregations, The White Rock, and St Julian's.
Tim Tawney
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Fireworks & Halloween Night
On a clear, cold night under a full moon the ghouls and goblins of Under-river descended on the White Rock for Fireworks and Hot dogs.
With the spooky ambience provided by Dave Leaf lighting and the smell of hamburgers and fries in the air there was a wonderful sense of anticipation for this years firework display.
And we weren’t disappointed with a bigger, louder and longer display than ever before over 200 people enjoyed the evening.
The table for the pumpkin com-petition was groaning under the weight of curious carvings of all shapes and sizes. The over 11’s was won by Mia Stack and under 11’s by Korban Mullick with the cutest “Wonder Woman”, Sophia Pierce, winning the fancy dress competition.
A fantastic £530 was raised during the evening of which £265 will be donated to the Royal British Legion.
Thank you to everyone that helped with special thanks to Frank and staff at the
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UNDERRIVER AND WILDLIFE HABITAT
There are many people in Underriver with knowledge of the habitat needed for wildlife to flourish. It might be of interest to learn about what has been done and what people plan to add to the richness of our wildlife. We could have a monthly article.
If you have a project you have undertaken, or one you are planning, please con-tact Juliet Simpson 01732 761905 or email [email protected] so we can have an article every month.
As an opening I will introduce probably our rarest (and dearest?) mammal.
THE DORMOUSE
No one knows how many we have, but one has been found on Rooks Hill and the Thornton’s cat once brought one into their house. They are nocturnal and rarely seen, but if you find hazel nuts which have been eaten with a neat hole which is smooth in the inside of the chewed edge, that shows it was eaten by a dormouse.
They are fussy about their habitat which is why they are so rare. They live entirely above ground except when they hibernate in the winter. Low shrubs, hedges and coppiced woodland suits them best. Continuous corridors of woodland where they can travel along branches, including touching branches over narrow lanes, enable populations to disperse and flourish.
White Rock, and Robert & Lorna Talbot, Mark Salmon, Laura Chappell, Omar Mullick, Ed Rook, Louise Hayward, Paul Gill, Malcolm Harris & Joe Hayward.
Miles Hayward.
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LADIES CHOIR IN UNDERRIVER
Since September we have successfully been running a ladies choir in the vil-lage hall. It is conducted by Dani Shirtcliffe ( Richard and Elizabeth’s talented daughter-in-law) on a Monday morning at 9.30am. Dani is an amazing teacher with a great relaxed style and it’s so much fun!
We would like to continue after Christmas and would love it if you could join us. Prospective dates for January are
Monday 8th January Monday 15th January Monday 22nd January Monday 29th January Monday 5th February
The sessions will run for 1 hr 20 mins followed by tea and coffee and will be £10 per week payable in advance by cheque as a 5 week block. We will be starting new songs for each 5 week session so you won’t feel that you are be-hind if you have not been before. You do not have to be able to read music to join in as Dani helps us learn by providing training tracks via e mail and you just click on them to listen to them at home its quite simple and in the lessons we learn by rote although you are welcome to have the music if that’s how you prefer to sing! The songs will be from a huge range of styles and genres so there should be something for everyone the sessions are informal and great fun. Many of the ladies have never sang in a choir before, It’s incredibly uplift-ing to hear us all together once we have learnt a song - so why not give it a try?
Please pass this on to anyone in the village or beyond that you think might like to come along as everyone is welcome. I really hope that you will be able to join us.
You can contact me by e mail - [email protected] or phone me on 01732 833943 for more information.
Belinda Goodwin
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THURSDAY UNDERRIVER GROUP
TUG members were treated to a very well researched talk by Melanie Gibson-Barton BSc (Hons) on The Life and Times of Edith Cavell. Exploring the story of the British heroine who died in Brussels in 1915. Melanie made regular trips to Brussels to research the hospitals and homes where Edith worked in her nursing career, as well as the place of her execution - a humbling experience. This infor-mation was supported with many photographs of existing artefacts of Edith Cavell’s life.
I must confess when Melanie first started her talk I began to take copious notes but in the end I simply couldn’t keep up and so abandoned the idea and just enjoyed her performance. Melanie’s research was second to none - jam packed with facts and figures and presented in a light hearted way which still reverently respected Edith Cavell’s extraordinary life. Not once did Melanie re-fer to any notes. You could have heard a pin drop in the room so riveted were the members. There was also a TUG member who was a relative of Edith Cavell and she brought a wonderful painting of Edith with her for us all to see.
I have a suspicion that we may see more of Melanie in the future on another well researched and interesting subject.......
Denise Budd
If you are travelling this Christmas, look out…
In a Swiss mountain inn: Special today - no ice cream.
At an airport in Denmark: We take your bags and send them in all directions.
In a New York restaurant: Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager.
On the door of a Moscow hotel room: If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.
Christmas presents
Catching her in the act, I confronted our three-year-old granddaughter. ‘Are you opening your little sister’s presents?’ I demanded. ‘No,’ she innocently replied, ‘I'm just helping her learn to share.’
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Live shows on stage
There are two pantos and two other Christmas shows to choose from.
From Saturday 3rd December to Sunday 7th January (except Mondays 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th), Sevenoaks’ Stag Theatre’s panto will be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, featuring Bob Carolgees with Spit the Dog, CBBC’s Ed Petrie, Danny Beard from Britain’s Got Talent, Keith Jack from Any Dream will Do, Sapphire Elia from Emmerdale and Jasette Amos who is back by popular demand. There will be matinees most days and some morning performances. 01732 450175.
From Friday 8th December to Wednesday 3rd January (except Mondays 11th, 18th, 25th and 1st), Tunbridge Wells’ Assembly Hall Theatre’s panto will be Alad-din, featuring Mark Rhodes from Junior Bake-Off, EastEnders’ Michael Greco, Jess Robinson from Britain’s Got Talent, Quinn Patrick, Chris Pizzey from The Basil Brush Show and Tom Whalley. We are promised a traditional show packed with comedy, slapstick, singing, dancing, beautiful costumes and plenty of audi-ence participation. There will be matinees every day except 8th December and a few morning performances. 01892 530613.
From Friday 8th to Sunday 17th December, Tonbridge’s Oast Theatre’s Christ-mas show will be Wendy and Peter Pan by Ella Hickson, based on J M Barrie’s novel. With the aid of a little fairy dust, Wendy flies to Neverland with Peter Pan. There she gives the Lost Boys a run for their money, defeats Captain Hook and his pirate crew and learns what it means to grow up. 01732 363849.
Finally, from Thursday 14th December to Wednesday 3rd January, Tunbridge Wells’ Trinity Arts Theatre will present the much-loved Wizard of Oz. Dorothy and her dog Toto are swept away to the magical kingdom of Oz, where they meet a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, a Cowardly Lion and the Wicked Witch of the West. Will the Wizard help them find their way home to Kansas? Songs in-clude Somewhere over the Rainbow, Follow the Yellow Brick Road, If I only had a Heart and We’re Off to see the Wizard. 01892 678678.
From Saturday 20th to Saturday 27th January, the Oast Theatre will present Ella Hickson’s Brontë. This show is described as a compelling detective story
(Continued on page 15)
LOCAL THEATRE
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JANUARY 2016
7 EPIPHANY White
11:15 All-age Family Service Reading: Matthew 2:1-12
14 2nd Sunday of Epiphany White
8:00 Holy Communion (CW) Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-20 & John 3:43-51
11:15 Matins (BCP) Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-20 & John 3:43-51
21 3rd Sunday of Epiphany White
11:15 Short Family Communion (CW) Readings: Revelation 19:6-10 & John 2:1-11
28 Candlemas White
11:15 Parish Communion Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 & Mark1:21-28
FEBRUARY
4 2 before Lent Green
11:15 All-age Family Service Reading: John 1::1-14
Church Calendar - St Margaret’s
Rotas for St Margaret’s
Sidesmen/-women and Readers 7 Jan Sides: C Thornton
Readers: tba 14 Jan
8:00 Sides: Jill Scott Readers: tba
11:15 Sides: A Rucker Readers: tba
21 Jan Sides: J Clemence Reader: tba
28 Jan Sides: C Honnywill Readers: tba
4 Feb Sides: J Rucker Readers: tba
Church Cleaning
5 Jan J Hurrion & K Lambert
12 Jan M Clark & tba
19 Jan J Martineau & L Weston
26 Jan R Hawker & A Martin
2 Feb F Brooks & E Shirtcliff
Church Brass Cleaning
13 Jan Robert Wells & Phillip Payne
17 Feb Tim Pierce & Tim Tawney
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Services at St Lawrence, Seal Chart
DECEMBER
3 1st of Advent 8:00 Holy Communion (BCP)
9:45 All-age Family Service
10 2nd of Advent 9:45 Family Communion (CW)
17 3rd of Advent 18:00 Carol Service
24 Christmas Eve 17:30 Crib & Christingle Service
23:30 First Communion of Christmas
25 CHRISTMAS DAY 9:45 Family Celebration Communion
31 Naming & Circumcision 9:45 Joint Holy Communion (CW)
JANUARY 2018 7 Epiphany 8:00 Holy Communion (BCP)
9:45 All-age Family Service 14 2 of Epiphany 9:45 Family Communion (CW)
21 3 of Epiphany 9:45 Family Communion (CW) 28 Candlemas 9:45 Matins (BCP)
4 Feb 2 before Lent 8:00 Holy Communion (BCP)
9:45 All-age Family Service
about the turbulent lives of the Brontë sisters. It explores how three Victorian young ladies, living in isolation on the Yorkshire moors, came to write some of the most powerful and passionate fiction of all time. The play explores the real and imagined worlds of the Brontës, as their fictional characters come to haunt their creators. 01732 363849.
Otherwise, I have very little information about January after the pantos. The Stag often has an excellent amateur panto at the end of January, and you may wish to enquire whether it will have one this year.
Screened live performances and pantos will include:
On Thursday 14th December, Sondheim’s Follies from the National Theatre (encored at Trinity); and
On Thursday 11th January, Richard Bean’s and Clive Coleman’s Young Marx (screened live at the Stag).
I feel sure there will be more January screenings; and I am sorry not to have
information about them when going to print in mid-November.
Arthur Rucker.
(Continued from page 13)
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Church Cleaning
2 Dec S Mcfadyen & S Rook
9 Dec S Brunton & J Fair
16 Dec B Leafe & L Notley
23 Dec J Martineau & L Weston
30 Dec R Hawker & A Martin
Church Brass Cleaning
16 Dec Tim Pierce & Tim Tawney
13 Jan Robert Wells & Phillip Payne
Rotas for St Margaret’s
Sidesmen/-women and Readers 3 Dec Sides: C Thornton
Readers: Jonathan Horner 10Dec
8:00 Sides: S Tawney Readers: Jennifer Fair
11:15 Sides: Jill Scott Readers: Fionna Brooks
17 Dec Sides: J Clemence & C Honnywill Reader: tba
24 Dec 16:00 Sides: L Notley & J Hurrion
Readers: Zanthe Veneziani
23:30 Sides: P Payne Readers: Tim Tawney
25 Dec Sides: A Rucker & J Rucker Readers: Charles Honnywill
Newssheet subscription: £7.00 or £13.00 for postal subscribers. Cheques payable to St Margaret’s Church, Underriver or cash should be handed to the person who delivers your
newssheet or Belinda Goodwin, The Kentish Barn, Underriver, TN15 0SJ.
Church Flowers
3 Dec Jane Martineau
10 Dec Jane Martineau
17 Dec Carol Service
24 Dec Fionna Brooks
Useful Names and Addresses Church Warden Andrea Pierce, 1 Grenadier Cottages, Riding Lane, Hildenborough, TN11 9QH; 832408.
Underriver Village Association Secretary: Robert Talbot, Weald Heights, Fawke Common, Underriver, TN15 0SP; 761546. [email protected]
Village Hall Reservations Hall Bookings Secretary: 07548 723867 or [email protected]
www.underriver-village.org.uk Omar Mullick , [email protected]
Thursday Underriver Group Wendy Fairweather 01732 851256
Horticultural Society Secretary: Mary Owlett, Absaloms Farm; 838716.
Underriver Youth Group Charles Honnywill, Underriver Farm; 838036.
Cricket Club Ian Batty 07877 106681
Scotts Project Secretary: Jill Scott, 833498.
Kent County Council Cllr. Roger Gough [email protected]
Sevenoaks District Council Ward Representatives Roderick Hogarth, 01732 760325 [email protected]
Julia Thornton, 07831 234449 [email protected]
Seal Parish Council www.sealparishcouncil.org.uk
Clerk - Lorna Talbot; 01732 763488. [email protected] Tim Martin; 07929 839914 [email protected] Fidelity Weston: 463372 [email protected]
Parish Administrative Assistant Tim Pierce [email protected]
All contributions should be submitted to the editor by 15th of the preceding month.
Editor Tim Pierce, 1 Grenadier Cottages, Riding Lane, Hildenborough TN11 9QH
01732 832408 [email protected] Printed by Sarum Graphics